because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
Parallel translations
- WEB For John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
- KJV For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
- NKJV Because John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
- NASB For John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
- NLT John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry her.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
John had told Herod it was unlawful for him to have Herodias. The prophet boldly spoke God's truth regardless of the danger.
Overview
John had directly confronted Herod, declaring that his marriage to Herodias violated God's law. His courage in rebuking a powerful ruler exemplifies prophetic faithfulness that fears God more than man. This bold stand for righteousness, even at personal cost, foreshadows John's martyrdom and models uncompromising integrity for all who serve God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Lev 20:21If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is an act of impurity. He has uncovered the nakedness of his brother; they shall be childless.
- Lev 18:16You must not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would shame your brother.
- Mark 6:18For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife!”
- 2 Chr 26:18–19They took their stand against King Uzziah and said, “Uzziah, you have no right to offer incense to the LORD. Only the priests, the descendants of Aaron, are consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have acted unfaithfully; you will not receive honor from the LORD God.”
- Isa 8:20To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
- 1 Kgs 21:19Tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Have you not murdered a man and seized his land?’ Then tell him that this is also what the LORD says: ‘In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, there also the dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’”
- Prov 28:1The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
- Deut 25:5–6When brothers dwell together and one of them dies without a son, the widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother is to take her as his wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law for her.
- 2 Sam 12:7Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.
- Acts 24:24–25After several days, Felix returned with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 14:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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